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Contact Dermatitis• About dermatitis |
| Example of allergic contact dermatitis |
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About dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is a skin condition, which appears similar to eczema. Sometimes people use words 'eczema' and 'dermatitis' to mean the same thing, but they are different. Contact dermatitis is an inflammatory skin condition caused by external substances touching the skin. Occupational contact dermatitis means that the dermatitis is caused by something you are contacting at work.Dermatitis usually affects the hands, because it is the hands that are touching everything while you work. But it can also affect the arms, face or legs, in fact any part of the body.
Skin dryness is usually the first sign of dermatitis and often starts in the web spaces between the fingers.
Example of dermatitis beginning in the web spaces between the fingers
Dermatitis can make the skin:
- Dry
- Itchy
- Red
- Split and crack
- Flake and peel
- Burn and sting
- Sometimes there are small blisters
When dermatitis develops the skin may take months to heal, even once it looks like it has returned to normal.
Dermatitis commonly affects people working in a range of industries, but most often affects those working in:
- Hairdressing
- Healthcare
- Food handling
- Manufacturing
- Construction
- Printing
- Metal working
- Automotive industry
- Irritant contact dermatitis
- Allergic contact dermatitis
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Irritant contact dermatitis
Irritant contact dermatitis is the most common type of dermatitis. Usually irritant contact dermatitis builds up over time, after regular exposure to skin irritants.Skin dryness is usually the first sign and often starts in the web spaces between the fingers.
Example of irritant contact dermatitis
The most common causes of irritant contact dermatitis are:
- Water and 'wet work' e.g. frequent hand washing, dishwashing, food preparation, patient bathing and repeated shampooing (for hairdressers)
- Soaps and detergent
- Heat and sweating
- Dusts and fibres
- Chemicals such as solvents and thinners
- Grease, oils, fuels
People working in the following industries, especially those jobs which involve lots of 'wet work' and frequent contact with chemicals, are at highest risk. These include:
- Food handling
- Hair and beauty
- Healthcare
- Mechanical and metal working and
- Construction
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Allergic contact dermatitis
Allergic contact dermatitis is a delayed type of allergy. Allergy is very individual (i.e. a person may be allergic to something, that can another person can use with no problems). It can occur at any time, even if you have been using a product for many years or just a few weeks. With this form of dermatitis, the rash appears 8 to 24 hours after contact and lasts for several days, and sometimes more.
Example of allergic contact dermatitis
If the skin is already damaged, such as being dry and cracked, the risk of becoming allergic to something is much higher. Once an allergy to something has developed, it is lifelong and even the smallest amount of contact will cause the rash to appear again.
Only certain chemicals have the potential to cause allergic reactions. It is said that there are approximately 100,000 chemicals, but only about 4,000 have been reported to cause allergic contact dermatitis. Some very strong substances, such as kerosene, do not cause allergy, but are extremely irritating to the skin.
Whether people develop an allergic reaction depends on:
- The type of chemical contacted
- Concentration of chemical on the skin
- Duration of skin contact
- Individual tendency to develop allergy
- Hair dye
- Nickel
- Chromate which is found in cement and used in tanned leather
- Rubber chemicals, also called accelerators, which can be found in gloves
- Glues and coatings such as epoxy resin
- Preservatives in skin care products
- Fragrances
- Some foods such as garlic and onion
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Contact urticaria
Contact urticaria is a different type of allergy, which can also occur at any time.The reaction starts immediately following contact with the allergen, usually within 10-30 minutes following skin contact. It normally settles down an hour after contact has stopped. It is usually caused by a plant or animal product.
This condition usually causes welts or hives on the skin, with itchiness and swelling, but can also cause a runny nose, sneezing and asthma like symptoms.
Recurrent episodes of contact urticaria can lead to dermatitis (termed protein contact dermatitis). This may appear just like allergic or irritant contact dermatitis.
Special blood tests and a different form of allergy testing, prick testing, is used to diagnose contact urticaria. Prick testing is commonly used by allergists to diagnose causes of asthma, hayfever and food allergies. Blood tests (radioallergosorbent or RAST) can also be used. Latex allergy is a form of contact urticaria.
Example of positive prick test reactions
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Latex allergy
• What is latex?
• Risk factors for latex allergy
• Signs and symptoms
• Management of latex allergy
• Further information
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Latex is the sap from the rubber tree, hevea brasiliensis. Latex, or natural rubber latex (NRL), is found in many every day products. Latex allergy is caused by proteins found in natural rubber latex.
Latex gloves
Latex gloves are a frequent cause of latex allergy. Allergy to latex gloves usually causes a localized reaction (rather than an all-over reaction) such as on the hands or where the gloved hands touch the body, such as the face. Sometimes people can develop breathing problems as well.
Allergy to latex gloves is most common amongst healthcare workers. However, latex gloves are also commonly used by food handlers and hairdressers, despite more suitable varieties being available. If you are allergic to latex, be aware that some food handlers wear latex gloves for food preparation. This means there is the risk that proteins from the glove may be transferred to the food, therefore increasing the risk of an allergic reaction when the food is eaten.
Latex products
In addition to latex gloves causing latex allergy, there are many other medical and household products that may contain latex. These may include:
| Gloves | Condoms |
| Rubber bands | Some computer mouse pads |
| Balloons | Panty hose or elastic in underwear |
| Goggles | Rubber electrical cords on appliances |
| Rubber innersoles | Rubber boots or rain coats |
| Some medical products such as airway masks, catheters and dressings | Items with rubber handles such as tooth brushes, golf clubs, tennis racquets |
Risk factors for latex allergy
- A history of asthma, eczema or hay fever (called atopy)
- Damaged skin i.e. dry and cracked skin
- Working in the healthcare industry and frequent wearing of latex gloves
- Using powdered latex gloves. Powder facilitates the transfer of the latex allergen to the skin
- Long term exposure to latex, especially individuals who have undergone surgery several times
- Banana
- Avocado
- Kiwi fruit
- Melons
Signs and symptoms of latex allergy:
- An itchy, red rash within minutes of contacting latex
- Itchy, red skin and/or eyes
- Runny nose, sneezing and sometimes asthma
- Burning, stinging, itching, tingling and swelling from latex contact on 'mucous membranes' lining internal surfaces, like the mouth (from blowing up balloons or gloves worn by dentists), or the vagina (from condoms)
For more information on anaphylaxis visit the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy website www.allergy.org.au
Management of latex allergy:
Unfortunately there is no cure for latex allergy, so it is important to avoid contact with latex products at work and home.
If you are not sure whether a product contains latex, it is best to contact the product manufacturer.
People with latex allergy need to wear a Medic Alert bracelet, as all healthcare facilities use latex products, and you may not be able to tell them that you are allergic to latex.
Remember to tell your dentist also, as dentists commonly wear latex gloves.
| Remember... if you are a healthcare worker, and are allergic to latex, there are other suitable glove varieties available, such as nitrile and neoprene. Vinyl gloves are not suitable as they do not protect against bodily fluids. |